Aceh, August 21, 2025 – Alarm bells are ringing once again in Rawa Tripa. Satellite data from Global Forest Watch revealed the loss of 26.78 hectares of peat swamp forest in just one week (July 1–8, 2025). The report recorded 2,180 deforestation alerts, signaling a surge in illegal land clearing activities in one of the world’s most critical peatland ecosystems.

Rahmad Syukur, Director of APEL Green Aceh Foundation, strongly condemned the destruction. He emphasized that the loss of Rawa Tripa’s peat forest is not just about trees, but a full-scale ecological disaster with direct impacts on local communities.

“The state must not turn a blind eye. Rawa Tripa is our last defense against the climate crisis. Every hectare lost means greater risks of flooding, drought, human–wildlife conflict, and suffering for local people,” stressed Rahmad.

According to him, the damage to Tripa Swamp must be investigated immediately. Rahmad strongly suspects this practice is linked to systematic illegal oil palm clearing, or he suspects it's due to negligence by authorities

"If law enforcement continues to be weak, don't blame the people if they think the state is siding with corporations destroying forests," he said.

The Aceh Green Apel Foundation demands strict law enforcement against perpetrators of destruction, a permanent moratorium on peatland clearing, full protection of the Tripa Swamp, and transparency in forest area management.

Rahmad reminded that Tripa Swamp is one of the most important peatlands in the world, storing millions of tons of carbon and being a habitat for Sumatran orangutans and tigers.

"If the Tripa Swamp is destroyed, we will be digging our own civilization's grave. The time to act is now, before it's too late," he concluded.